davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening world., 1887-12-14

BILE. If not We can all go and carry the
women with u.s."
1 let him go. He was right. He was now
compelled to attempt the impossible. He
had succeeded with the aid of IN iron cramp-
hook, fastened to the chimney, in reaching
the roof of q neighboring house, when his
wife, Aimee, raising her head, saw that he
was no longer with us.
Where is he 2" she cried out, p" He shall
not leave me. We are together and we will
die together"
When she saw him on the roof of the house
she ran along the tiles towards him, still
clipging fast TO her babes.
"Cyprien," she shrieked, !" wait for me,
/ am going with you; | will die with YOU
She insisted. Leaning over the roof, he
entreated her to stay. promising that he
would be back Immediately, and that we
would all be saved. But she only shook her
head, and in a frenzied voice again cried
I'm going with you.",
He was obliged TO take the children from
her. Then he helped her to Chamber up to
him. We could now see them picking their
yanced slowly. She had taken the children
in her arms again, both of them crying
piteously. At almost every step Cyprien
turned around to encourage her.
at once" l shouted. ! could zee him wave
his hand, but the roar of the waters smothered
his voice. 500 we lost sight of them en-
tirely, They a descended to another roof
that was lower than the first.
In about five minutes they reappeared on
the third house, the roof of which must have
been very steep, as they were dragging them
selves along it on their knees.
A sudden fear seized me. l put my hands
to my lips and shouted with all my might
Come back, come back :"
Pierre, jacques, Gaspard and oil the others
cried out To them also to return. Our voices
arrested them for an instant, but they imme-
diately continued TO advance. They had
now reached the angle of tho street in front
of the Rainbeau house, n tall building, the
roof of which was ut least three feet higher
than hat Of any of its %neighbors. They hes.
itated for an instant. Thon Cyprien climbed
up Il chimney pipe with the agility of n cat.
Aimee, who was compelled TO wait for him,
remained standing on the middle of the roof.
We could plainly see her, pressing her
children to her bosom, her dark form stand
ing out clearly in the dim light. 1t was then
that our frightful misfortunes began.
The Rainbeau house, which had been
originally intended for u workshop, was very
Enthusiastically built. Moreover, the resist
less current that swept down the open street
was dashing against its front. ! imagined
that ] could see il tremble under the assaults
of the heaving waters, and in dumb silence
! followed CyPrien who was making his way
Isadfcnty; aloud csaaa rosoundsd.s. The
The evening world., 1887-12-14
let us trust to this no longer. The water is

let US trust 70 THIS no longer Inc water Is
This warning aroused our Keeling senses.
Emerging from my. stupor ! shrugged my
shoulders, saying Money is nothing after
all. So long as we are all saved, we have no
work again to regain what is lost"
Yes, yes. You are right, father" replied
Jacques, %nervously, and we are in no dan
ger. The wallis are strong. We will go out
upon the roof"
This was now the only refuge left. The
water, which had climbed the staircase step
by step, with quiet stealth, was now pouring
In at the door. We all rushed to the garnet,
urged on by that need one feels in the hour
had disappeared, Icalled him, and saw MIN
return from one of the adjoining rooms, his
face sadly overcast.
Then, when / mentioned the absence of our
two servants and expressed my intention to
whispered: Dead! The corner of the shed
under their room has Just been swept away"
The poor girls must have gone to get their
little savings that they kept in their trunks.
He told me that they had used q ladder for q
bridge to gain an adjoining building. l told
him to say not a word about it. A cold shud-
der thrilled through my frame. Death had
entered the house.
Luckily the roof was broad and not very
steep. We reached it by a skylight, near
which stood a sort of platform. IL was here
that our party now took refuge: The women
seated themselves upon 1t. The men began
examining the roof, even the two lofty chin
neys at either end. i remained leaning on
the edge of the platform, eagerly scanning
the horizon.
"Help must surely come" l said, encour-
agingly. THE people of Saintin have boats,
They will come this way. See, is not that a
lantern on the water 2"
But no one answered me. Pierre, scarce
knowing what he was doing, had lighted his
pipe and was smoking SO vigorously that he
crunched the end of the pipestem at each
puff. Jacques and Cyprien were looking
with sad faces out on the rising waters, while
Gaspard, with clinched hands, paced the
roof as II seeking some plan of escape.
The silent. shivering women sat at our
feet, their faces hidden in their hands to
shut out the awful sight. But at last Rose
raised her head, cast a frightened glance
around her and asked g Where are the serv-
ants2 Why do they not come up?"
/ made NJ answer. Looking me ixedly in
the face, she again asked, Where are the
servants 2"
I could not tell her an untruth, 80 I
abruptly turned away. But / felt that the
same deathly chill that had previously
thrilled me now passed through the women.
They understood what had happened. Marie
sprang mp suddenly, uttering a despairing
moan, nfathensat downinab burst Of tears.
The evening world., 1887-12-14

table into the middle of the room and set
about organizing a card party. The good
woman, whose eyes were every few moments
directed towards me, was wholly intent on
diverting the minds of the children. Her
good nature seemed to keep up her courage,
and she laughed and joked to dispel the
fears that she felt were gathering around her.
The party was soon seated. Aunt Agathe
by main force placed Aimee and Voronique
It the table. She put the cards in their
bands, playing herself with the keenest zest,
Bhufiing, cutting and dealing the cards and
meantime keeping up such a olatter of talk as
almost TO drown the roar Of the waters with
out. But it was vain to try to divert the
minds OF the girls. Their faces were deathly
pale, their hands twitohed n~ervously and
their ears were startled ut the slightest sound.
AZ short intervals the game was suspended.
One OF the, girls turned 10 me every few
moments and inquired in tremulous acoents:
Grandpa: T. the water still risingp"
pnMt Yes surely rising with frightful rapidity.
ON. esN There u not 1ha least dangSrlT
The evening world., 1887-12-14

moon had risen-a round, full moon. whose
yellow rays lit up the vast waste around with
the yividness of a huge lamp. Not a single
was the Rainbeau house that had just been
swept away. We uttered q terrible cry on
seeing Cyprien disappear.
When the crash took place we could see
only O tremendous splash and n whirling vor-
tex where the debris of the roof went down.
Then all was tranquil. The waters resumed
their level for an instant az the ends of the
shattered timbers rose above the surface.
There was a mass of tangled ~rafters and
beams, d%isjointed, broken and i'll ineXtricable
confusion. And in the midst of this mass /
fancied | sa n moving object, something
making superhuman efforts to free itself.
He lives!" / cried. "Ah! God be praised;
he lives! There, above that white sheet of
water, shining in the moonlight !"
We laughed ~neryously. We clapped our
hands with Joy rs if We ourselves had been
saved.
Yes, yes, see !" exclaimed Gaspard " he
is trying to catch that beam on the left.
But our laughter ceased. We did not utter
another word: our tongues were paralyZed
with horror. We had just realized the
terrible situation in which Cyprien was
placed. In the fall of the house his feet had
got caught between two beams, and there he
} hung, head downward, a few inches from
the water and utterly powerless to free him
self. His agony must have been frightful..
Alilee WIS bllll hthlluiHR On llt TOOl VI Ile
adjoining house with her two children. She
shook with n convulsive shudder. She was
looking at her husband dying a few feet
below her, never once moving her eyes from
the unfortunate man. She uttered "A pierre
ing yell that froze our hearts with horror.
I'VE cannot let him die like that" said
Jacques, half distracted. Come, we must
go to his rescue"
We might, perhaps, De able TO Chamber
along the beams" answered Pierre. I'VE
could then release him"
They were hurrying towards the adjoining
roof when the second house crumbled away.
II was impossible to reach him now. A cold
shudder shot through us. We grasped each
others hands mechanically, and stood terror
stricken without the power to take our eyes
from the frightful spectacle.
Cyprien had at first tried TO stifen and con-
tract his limbs. With extraordinary strength
he thus managed to keep above the water,
maintaining his body in an oblique position.
At last fatigue oyerpowered HIM. But he
struggled bravely, trying to grasp the beams
from which he hung and finging his hands
around him in a desperate effort to clutch
anything within reach.
Then. accepting his fate, he fell again and
hung motionless above the treacherous flood,
but death was slow in coming. The water was
now touching his hair ami still slowly rising,
He must have feitits wet'bfeathp enAAis -foEs1-
The evening world., 1887-12-14
ADJUSTMENTS.

Aimee, wrapping her skirts about her two
children, pressed them closer to her bosom
as if in al effort to protect thems. Veronique,
with her face hidden In her hands. did not
move. Aunt Agathe, pale and trembling, re-
peated a fervent prayer.
The scene around us now was one OF
sovereign grandeur. Night had fallen, but
the heavens retained all the transparency Of
yet risen, but the sky twinkled with countless
stars, set in 30 pure a blue that the air was
filed with an azure light. The twilight still
seemed to linger on the verge of the distant
horizon, and the vast expanse of water spread
out beneath this tranquil sky, shining with
a CHASTITY phosphorescent brightness that lit
up the tiny bubbles that played on the crest
of each breaking wave
The earth was no longer visible. The
entire plain was submerged. At times I
Marseilles 1 had thus beheld the sea, and !
stood gazing at the scene filed with admira-
ton; =,
stem betwee his teeth as before. The water
was now within three feet of the roof, and
was beginning to lose its tranquility. Cur;
rents were setting in. After the water had
protected by the rising ground that lay in
front of the village. In less than an hour the
water grew threatening, turbid, dashtng vio-
lently against the house, and whirling dis.
JOlnteu tlmDerS, broken casks anu Iu1ts OF
heritage around and around in its boiling
eddies.
Jacques, maddened by the sobbing of the
woman, exclaimed 1--WE cannot stay here
longer: something must be done. Father,
/ beg you let us try to do something"
Yes, yes" / muttered, " let us try to do
something"
But none of us knew what. Gaspard offered
to take Veronique on his back and swim with
her to some place of safety. Pierre talked of
O raft. That was folly.
AT last Cyprien said, IF we could only
reach the church,
The church. with its little square belfry,
still remained above tine water. There were
seven houses between 1t and ug. One house
which stood at the edge of the village adjoined
a higher building, which was in turn con-
nected with a neighboring house. Perhaps
we would be able to roach the presbytery by
clambcring along the roofs, and then we
could easily enter the church.
Many people had already taken refuge
there, for the neighboring roofs were vacant,
and we conld hear the sound of voices in the
belfry. But how many dangers should we
overcome before reaching 1t
1t is impossible" said Pierre. The
Rainbeau house is too high, we should need
ladders"
I'm try il anyhow" answered Cyprien.
l"iT will comUcbadk ifthe plan Isl iInpradtical
The evening world., 1887-12-14

Never before was my heart q prey to such
anxiety. All the men had gathered at the
without, We turned towards the centre Of
the room, n with a sad smile gazed. on the
softened light of the lamps that fell on the
table before US with the sweetness of fading
sunset. I recalled to mind the pleasant
seated around the same table. 1t was still
the same room, glowing with the warmest
affection. But while peace reiRned within, I
could hear behind me sullen roar of the
unbridled river, ever rising higher and
Louis" whispered my brother Pierre,
window something must be DONE"
l nudged his arm to keep him silent. But
The cattle were dying in the stables: We
could hear their plaintiye believing and bleat-
ing in the stalls, and the horses were utter
ing those frightened snorts one hears when
there is danger at hand.
my God! my God !" cried Aimee, who
sprang from her seat, pressing her temples
with her hands n shuddering as abe spoke.
All the others now rose and we could no
longer prevent them from rushing to the
windows. There they stood, silent and
A deeper twilight had fallen. A dim light
lowered over the turbid expanse Of water.
Clouds of mist hung on the verge of the
horizon. All was enveloped In haze. II was
| Uub ClObo u lIlkublul uhy, blOWly bllhluk
into q night of death. And not a human
sound-nothing save the rumbling of the
spreading sea, the believing Of the cattle and
| the ~neighing Of the horses.
my God! my God!" exclaimed the
women in trembling ~acoents, as If afraid to
speak above q whisper.
Just then q terrible crash was heard. The
maddened beasts outside had burst the doors
of the stables. They passed Gus OF the
tawny pillows, whirling and spinning around
in the angry currents. Tn sheep were
tossed like withered leaves and sucked
beneath the whirling eddies. The cattle and
horses struggled, plunged and then lost their
footing. One large. gray horse especially
made o gallant fight for life; he reared,
| plunged and snorted madly, but the resistless
waters enyeloped him at last and closed over
him In quiet triumph.
Then we uttered our first lamentations
They could no longer be suppressed: We
had cause TO lament indeed. With our hands
stretched out towards those dear animals,
swept away before our eyes, We all gave way
to our pent-up grief in q burst of sobs and
tears. All this WINS ruin indeed; our harvest
| lost, our stock drowned, our fortune
| changed in O few short hours. God. was not
Just; we had not offended him, and yet ht
had takon everything from us.
The water was still rising. Pierre, who
WINS Watching IT. cfied' out tome; Louis
The evening world., 1887-12-14

T was now 8. 80 o'clock.
Daylight still fingered
without-a pale twi-
light that seemed to
fling an atmosphere Of
sadness around the
a d sky. The serv-
ants before coming up
had taken the precau-
ton of bringing two
lamps with them. 1
had them lighted,
thinking that they
would cheer our spirits
and brighten the room
bin which we had taken
refuge.
J Aunt Agathe rolled a
The evening world., 1887-12-14

Waldo, jr., and Philip Cross will DO the
ushers. There will be no bridesmaids. The
bride will wear q maroon-colored gros grain
silk with plush panels of the same shade,
with front Of embroidered crepe, and small
bonnet to match. She will carry white roses.
Miss Anna TAFT, o niece of the groom, will
hold the bouquet during the ceremony.
There will be no reception, but O family
dinner will be given at the Brunswick before
the departure of the newly married couple
on q Southern trip. Among those expected
ut the ceremony are the following-named
persons,
Misses Cisco, aunts Of the bride, Mr.. and Mrs.
", II; Bostwick' M. Livingston BSstwic n, MT.
v. Field, Nj. David Dudley Field, Mrs. Dudley
Field, Mr.. and Mira Walter Howe, the Misses
and Mrs : Deisaei j. Mrs: Henry, Van Rs;niselaeE,.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Maitland, Mr.. and MRS. j.
Staten Island MI. and Mrs. EDWARD King, the
Misses King, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles b. Post, Mr..
%sll,i% a enav ans i Srs. Plat, ss NJ. w .na Ml sne q ai'i X.
Townsend, the Misses Waldo, Mrs. George Cabot
Ward and the Rev. DR.. and Mrs. Morgan Dix,
Mr.. Ferguson w. Zoos and Miss Rosalie
Fellowes, daughter of @. ii. Fellowes, will be
married this afternoon at $50 O'clock
at the home of the brides parents, 4s7 Fifth
avenue. There will be no bridesmaids.
Messrs, William Livingston Hamersley, w.
will be the ushers. The bride will wear q
white satin gown, with train and V corsage.
The veil, of gold point has been used on SINH
lar occasions in her family. She will wear q
diamond star, the gift of the groom, and
other diamond ornaments, and will carry a
bouquet of white roses. The Rev. DR.. Ship
man, OF Christ Church, Will officiate.
Although only a few relatives and immediate
friends will witness the as many
as 400 puests are expected to attend the recep-
fion Ihich will follow These will include
az fo In ~, nanoaS ror.anS. wa" o
'ne ,oii low nAhe sa pef rS,,ns NJ ~. A.,
The evening world., 1887-12-14
ECZE MA
And Every Species Of itching
and Burning Diseases
Cured by Cuticura.

Eosema or Salt Rheum. with Tvs agopizipg itching and
burning, instantly relieved by q warm bath with CuJ1-
cURA SOAR, and a single application Of CUTIcURA, the
see.t Skin Cure: This: repeated daily, with two or three
10 keep the blood cool. the perspirathop pure and unirri-
tatlns, the bowels open, the liver and kidneys active,
LiOhsn. ,Piartus. SEAL Head DsnarSa, and ;vs5y
Boaip and. Skin, when the best physicians and all known
remedies fall.
The evening world., 1887-12-14

ANY w%ell-known peo-
pie will attend the
wedding this after
OF 4 o'clock, at
the Church Of the
Holy Communion, Of
James Harvey
Bostwick and Miss
Mary A. Smith, grand
daughter of the late
j. Cisco. The
Rev. DR.. Henry Mottet
omoiate. Mr..
Charles G. Thomas, Of
Germantown, Pa, will
be the best man.
.essrs. Hiram Smith,
Qeorpe Cisco. Horace
The evening world., 1887-12-14
ny Proxy.

IFfom LVe.1
"John,n said Deacon Smithus, after vainlv en-
deavoring to put q letter into an envelope too
small, ''is there Q dictionary of profanity In this
house ?"
eyes, sir, :" replied John.
every well, then" said the deacon, ~ 90 out
behind the barn and read 1t aloud, from beginning
1t up to my account"
The evening world., 1887-12-14
NOTABLE SOCIAL EVENTS.
THREE WEDDINGS AND THREE RECEPTIONS
TO OCCUR TO-DAY.

Mr.. Bostwick TO Marry Miss Smith, Mr..
Zoos TO Wed Miss Fcllowcs, and MIR.
Kinnan to Marry Miss Morris-Mrs wad-
dell, Mrs. Colgate and Mrs. Van schaick to
Give Observation-Disclosures
The evening world., 1887-12-14
A NIGHT OF TERR0RS.
BY Mill ZoLA
BY EMILE COLA.

Translated FOR The WORLD ovL c. orttn.l
Continued nom Tuesday.
Summary Of opening c~hapter-Louis Robieu was
q prosperous farmer in France, near the Garonne.
lie lived on his property with several grandchil-
dren and Observation-Disclosures. Heavy rains had
swelled the Garonne, and one night the hoods
swept over Robieu's farm. Death and destruction
were widespread
The evening world., 1887-12-14
SITUATIONS wANTED-MALE.

CORRESPONDENT graduate Of Harvard College,
~ who speaks and writes French, German aud English
with equal facility. desires a situation as foreign CORE,
spondsnt, references given. O. e., World Once, $50
broadway,
The evening world., 1887-12-14

To one and all We say use Ap!Msors BOTANIC oouaH
The evening world., 1887-12-14

Sold everywhere. Price, CurIcURA, 800; soar, goo.
REboLvENT, 81, Prepared by the POTTER DRUG ASr
CHEMICAL Co., Boston, Mass.
tH Send for How TO Cure Skin Diseases, " "a pages.
20 Ilustrationa and 100 teEtimonialA.
The evening world., 1887-12-14

w Az elegant table d I ct 2 !, dInR rs. at the oAuI,1rID. a
The evening world., 1887-12-14
ECZEMA.
ECZEMA.

Ihase suffered from Salt Rheum for over eight years. a.
times so bad that I could not attend 70 my bnsiness 10
weeks at a time. Throe boxes Of CUTICUHA and fou
bottles Of RKsoLvKNr have entirely cured me OF thi
dreadful disease.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-06
BgeEVETnEs.

The usual routine business was transacted
at the monthly meeting Of the Relief Hook
and Ladder company last night.
Mr.. Us. Yeaton has sold TO Mr.. J.P. Me-
Dermott a lot on the west side of Henry
street, between Queen and Princess, twenty
four feet front for $3.50.
A we'll. filled market basket, which the
wife of a well-known bank officer paid q
coiored boy to take TO her home this morn
ing. had not reached its destination this
evening.
The services ct the Second Presbyterian
Church tomorrow will be conducted by
Rev. A. a. Little. Subjects In the morn
ing, "Question end Answer )" night, "Thom-
as, the Doubter."
On Wednesday, at the temperance Bush
meeting near Purcellville, a large limb ofan
oak tree overhanging the BARRIERS tent fell.
inficting severe injuries upon Henry John
son, colored, of Leesburg.
1t is said that John Bright was prevented
from taking laudanum, in an alley, near the
local depot last night, by John Lee, colored,
who knocked the bottle from his hand just
as he put it to his lips. No cause is assign
ed for the rash act.
Matilda Jones, colored, who lives on Co.
lumbus street, near the canal, was badly
burned about her arms and body at her
home, on Thursday night last, by the x
plosion OF q coal oil lamp. Her burns, while
painful, are not serious.
The excursion TO Colonial Beach on Mon
day neyt on the steamer George Leary
promises TO be q very pleasant stfair.
Every arrangement has been made to rem.
der the excursion a success, and that it will
prove 80 is beyond doubt.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad Company are putting auto
matte whistles On ali their passenger trains.
These whistles are similar 10 those used on
the Pennsylvania system, and are said to be
much more convenient than the present
bell cord.
Messrs. Breen s. Feeley, contractors, have
flushed as much of their work of embank-
ment and paving at the southern approach
OF the Aqueduct bridge az can be done till
the abutments for the bridge are ouilt By the
Mt. Vernon Bridge Company, which compa.
ny has the contract for building the bridge.
Mayor Smoot to-day instructed the police
force TO arrest all boys caught riding on the
cals on the streets. Hestated that he would
fee all such boys for the first offense and for
tie second would commit them to the work
house as no thought that such q course
would be the means of saving the lives OF
many of them.
John Butlor, the IL year-old son OF the late
James Butler, and stepson of John Sisson, died OF
typhoid fever this morning Mt his home, near
Battery Rogers.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-06

Toe PREvIoUs.-Among the New YORK
Topics telegraphed TO the Baltimore ou"
of to day is the following:
Five new steamships are now In process
of construction for the transatlantic passen'
ger traffic. One of these. the Po~eabontas,
is an American vessel, built at alexandria
Va. She will have her trial trip from rev
port News in two or three weeks. she Ii
$40 feet long, 40 feet breadth OF beam ana
&c feet depth of hold. Her builders predlc'
that she can cfoss the Atlantic in four days
She was built long and narrow Tor the ex-
press purpose OF achieving speed"
The people of Alexandria sre hopeful
thatthe Pocahontas will soon be commenced
but were unprepared to see the announce
ment that she would make her trial trip III
q few weeks.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-06

PLEASANT TREAT.-While q party of
Young ladies and gentlemen were out en-
loving n moonlight row on the river last
night, they were hailed by Capt. Lewis, of
of the schooner John S. Ravens, of Acco-
mack county, invited on board that vessel,
and RECALLED, they say, with some of the
finest watermelon they ever ate.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-06

ia aqiong colored people, though this is
81. second occurrence of the sort N thiS
CT, within the present week.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-06

For this section local rains, followed ny iau
,,esIher: winds shifting to northwestcrly, warm
81. followed by cooler.